Fuel-supplying means.



T. A EDISON, JR. FUEL SUPPLYING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 25. 1912.

Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH (20., WASHINGTON, D. c.

T. A. EDISON, JR.

FUEL SUPPLYING MEANS.

APPLICATION FILE'D JULY 25. 1912. 1,160,585. Patented Nov; 16, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

flak/Wig.

coumnm PLANDGRAPH CO.,\VASHINGTON. n. c.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. unison, an, or BURLINGTON, NEW JERSEY.

To all whom may concerns Be it known that I, THOMAS A. EDIsON,

Jr, a citizen ofvthe United States, and a improvements in meansforsupplying the mixture of vaporized gasolene or other fuel to internalcombustion engines.

In startinginternal combustion engines,

particularly in cold, weather, difficulties are frequently encounteredin vaporizing the fluid fuel to an adequate e'ictent to cause the r ppassed.

mixture to be exploded when the sp arkt is My invention includesimproved means for aiding the vaporization of the fuel, bothv duringstarting and when runn1ng, for 1ncreasing the temperature ofthemi'xture, and

so as to economize in thefuelconsumed. -My'improved apparatus isparticularly adapted tobe manufactured, as ariattachin use. .7

My invention includes also the combinament for internal combustionl'enginesnow tions ofparts and details of construction hereinafterdescribed more fully and claimed.

. For the further description of myinven tion, reference is hadtothe'drawmgs accome panyingand forming part of this specification andin which- P Figure lis a sectional view of apparatus embodying myinvention, the section being taken onjthe line 1' -1 of Fig, 2. Figs. 2,3

and 4 are sectional viewstaken respectively on the lines 2.2, and 4'4 ofFig. 1.

Figs. '5 and' 6 are views of details of'com structlon. Fig. 7'; 1s asect1onal view of a modified form of apparatus embodying my. invention;and Fig. 8 1s a p'artlydiagram matic view of a modified form ofelectrical heater and deflecting means adapted for use in apparatusembodying my invention,instead of the corresponding partsillustrated inthe preceding figures. v

My improved apparatus is located in the eonehlitleading fromthe'carbureter to the FUEL-SUPPLYING MEANS. I

v i Specification of Letters Patent. Patented N 16, 1915,

Application filed July 25, 1912. Serial No. 711,398. I

cylinders of the engine, and I have illustrated my inventionas anattachment adapt edto be secured between the carbureter flange and theflange of the induction pipe.

Referringparticularly to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, at'1 is. shown 'theneck of the carbureter or pipe leading therefrom, and at 2 the flangelofthe same.- At 3. is shown the induction pipe and at 4 the flange of thesame. A casting 7 isrprovided having ex tendingtherethrough acylindrical opening 8 of somewhat greater. cross section than the crosssection of the carbureter neck and induction pipe, and adapted to besecured between the'carbureter flange and the induction pipe flange withthe opening 8 inline with the carbureter. neck and the induction pipe soas to constitute a. conduit connecting the two. .In the casting 7 andsurrounding the opening 8 and separated therefrom by a thin wall is anannular opening 9 which is adapted to receive anelectric heating coil13., The opening 9 is adjacent to the carbureter flange 2'. Adjacent tothe induction pipe flange 4 is an annular opening or chamber 10surrounding the opening 8 and separated therefrom by a thin wall. Theelectrical heating coil 13 and the chamber 10 adapted to receive heatedfluid are therefore in'thermal'relation tothe opening 8. The casting 7issecured between the induction flange 4 and the carbureter flange 2 bybolts 5 and 6 orother suitable means, and gaskets l1 and 12, .preferablyof asbestos, are provided between the casting 7 and the carbureterfl'ange2 and induction pipe flange 4 said circuit 20 being provided witha switch 22 for controlling the same,

Surroundingthe thin wall ofthe casting 7 between the opening,8 and theannular opening or chamber 10 ,isjan annular baffie plate23 providedwith openings or cutaway portions arranged in a manner hereinafterdescribedfl' The. opening; 8 is pro- 1 vided with wires or metallicfilaments 24 so disposed as to have large portions of the same incontact with the walls of the casting 7 surrounding the opening 8. Asingle wire may, of course, be used. .This mass of wire is held in placebetween members 25 extended across the ends of the opening 8 and securedin any suitable manner. I have illustrated the opening 8 as slightlybeveled at its ends, and the members 25 correspondingly beveled at theirends and held between the casting 7 and the gaskets 11 and 12 by thepressure produced by the flanges 2 and 4. An inlet pipe 26 is providedleading into the chamber 10 through its outer wall and locateddiametrically opposite thereto is an outlet pipe 27 leading from thechamber 1.0 through its outer wall. The pipe 26 is adapted to beconnected to the exhaust of the engine or to be fed with water which hasbeen heated by cooling the engine. The exhaust gases or heated waterenter through the pipe 26, pass through the chamber 10 on both sides ofthe annular baflle plate 23, and flow out through the outlet pipe 27,the path of the heated fluid being indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2.The portion of the casting 7 containing the chamber 10 may be designatedas a fluid heater. The openings 28 in the baffle plate 23 are soarrangedthat they increase in size in passing through a point oppositethe inlet pipe 26 around the two halves of the baffle plate to a pointopposite the outlet pipe 27. Or, the holes may be of the same size, butincreasing in number from a point opposite the inlet pipe 26 to a pointopposite the outlet pipe 27. The heated gas or water which entersthrough the pipe 26 has its maximum temperature at this point and hasbecome cooled somewhat be fore flowing out through the pipe 27. Thearrangement of openings in the battle plate 23 causes the inner wall ofthe casting 7 to be heated uniformly and causes a uniform distributionof heat through the deflecting wire or wires 24. An air inlet 46 isprovided in the casting 7 at a point remote from the inlet pipe 26. Fromthe air inlet 46 a pipe 29 leads through the chamber 10 throughoutsubstantially one half of the same to a point substantiallydiametrically opposite the inlet 46, and leads into the opening 8through the bafile plate 23 and the inner wall of the casting 7 at 30.Surrounding the air inlet 46 andsecured to the casting 7 is a hollowmember 31 provided on its interior with a port adapted to be closed bythe valve 32 and provided also with an opening 35 extending about halfway around its circumference and communicating with the port. \Vhen thevalve 32 is closed, no air can enter through the opening 35 into thespace communicating with the opening 46. Surrounding theportion of themember 31 containing the opening 35 a cup-shaped member 34 mounted onthe member 31 so as to be rotatably adjustable and having openings 36,37, 38 and 39, one or more of which may be brought into communicationwith the opening 35 by adjusting the member 34 on the member 31. Theopenings 36, 37, 38 and 39 communicate with the external atmosphere andby adjusting the member 34 so as to have a larger or smaller number ofopenings 36, 37, 38 and 39 communicating with opening 35, the supply ofair which enters through the air inlet 46 and pipe 29 into the opening 8may be controlled. The adjustably rotatable member 34 is provided with aknurled rim 40 to facilitate adjusting the same. The member 34 has anopening extending through it which serves as a guide for the stem 33 ofthe valve 32. The end of the stem is provided with a nut serving as anabutment 41 and a lock nut 42, and a coiled spring 47 is located betweenthe nut abutment 41 and the stem guidingportion 34, serving normally tokeep the valve 32 in closed position. A protecting cap 43 is screwthreaded on the member 34 so as to protect the extended end of the valvestem nuts 41 and 42, and the spring 47. A resilient open ring 45 shownin extended position in Fig. 5 is seated snugly in a groovecircumferentially surrounding the stem guiding end of the member 31, andfrictionally engages the inside of the member 34 and servin to hold itin adiusted position.

The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows :Assuming that theplug contacts 17 and 18 are connected with the socket contacts 15 and16, when it is desired to start the engine, the switch 22 is closed,which causes current to be supplied to the heating coil 13 from thebattery 21 to heat the coil. The heat from the coil is transmittedthrough the thin inner wall of the casting and to the portions of thewire or wires 24 in contact with the wall. The wires rapidly becomeheated and readily communicate their heat to the mixture of air andgasolene or other fuel which flows from the carbureter into the opening8 on its way to the induction pipe. By having a mass of metallicmaterial of considerable area distributed throughout opening 8, such aswires 24, substantially all of the fuel mixture comes in contact with aheating surface, and the mixture is adequately heated to enable theengine to be easily started. After the engine has gotten into operation,the switch 22 may be opened. The exhaust gases from the engine or thehot water from the cooling chambers flows in through inlet pipe 26 intochamber 10 around the baffle plate 23 on both sides thereof and contactswith the thin inner wall of the casting 7 at points where openingsin'the baffle plate occur. The exhaust gases or water flow out of theoutlet pipe 27. The heat from theexhaust gases or water transmittedthroughthe 3 thin wall of the casting 7 to the wire mass paratus.

within the opening 8 and aids in the vapor- 1zat1onwh1le the engine 18"runn ng. As the engine gets upto speed, the valve 32 opens and air isdrawn through the'opening 4:6.

and pipe 29 to the opening 8. The pipe 29' being surrounded by hot gasesor Water, air

is introduced into the mixture in heated condition, thereby addingmaterially to the-efficiency and economy of operation of my ,ap- Thecup-like member134: is ad-' justecl so'thatasufficient number ofopenings 36, 3 7, 38 and 39 communicate with the opening 35to furnishthe necessary supply of air for this purpose. I

In F g. 7Ihave illustrated amodification ofmy' invention in which,instead of the wire mass 24, I employ a rotating helical de vice tothrowv the mixture carrying the fuel particles against the innervva'llof the casting? to enable the heat fromthe same to be communicated tothemixture. In this modification, ring-like members 50,..50 are threadedinto the casting 7 at the two ends of the opening8,the ring-like members50,

50 "havingbridging members 51, 51' which serve as bearings for thecone-like ends52, 52 of the shaft carrying the helical member 53. Ballbearings may also be provided,

The-helicalmember '53 is provided with ea, forations." Under theinfluence of the draft of the mixture," the, helical member '53 iscausedto rotate on its bearings and the fuel particles are thrown against theinside wall of the casting 7 and heated. Otherwise than as illustratedand described, the construction mixture into contact with the walls of,the

I claim as new therein and desire to by Letters Patent'is as follows ofthe apparatus shown in Fig. 7 is the same as that illustrated in thepreceding figures;

In F ig."8 I have illustrated a modified form of electrical heatingdevice which may be utilized in any of the structures illustrated in thepreceding figures. This form of electrical heater consists ofa'plurality of radially disposed metal pieces 60 having their endsextended into the opening 8 and, 3 theportions ,without the opening 8sur-' rounded by. heating coils 61. The ends of the metal pieces 60which extend into the opening 8' are provided with perforated de.--flectingmembers at an angle. to the normal line of flow'of mixturethrough theopening- 8, the deflecting members 62 serving to communicateheat conducted from the'wheating.

coilsto the mixture and also to deflect the casting 7. V 7

Having now describedmyinvention, what 1. In fuel supplying means, meansfor heating the fuel, mixture comprising a heat conducting member withan opening therethroughfor the passage of the fuel mixture and providedwith separate chambers in protect thermal urelation to said opening, andan electric heater contained in one of said chambers,-the other of saidchambers being adapted to receive heated fluid, substantially asdescribed.

2. In fuel supplying means, means for heating. the fuel mixture havingan opening therethrough for the passage of the fuel mixture andprovidedwith separate chambers and having an electric heater contained"including a fluid heater and an electrical heater, and means forsupplylng air to the mixture through one of saidheaters, whereby the airthus supplied is heated," substantially as described. 4:. In fuelsupplying means, the combination of means for heating the fue'lmixturevncludlnga *fluid'heaterand an electr cal heater, and means for supply nga1r to the mixture through said fluid heater, whereby the air thussuppliedis heated, substantially as described.

In fuel and heat conducting material in thermal relation to said heatersand interposed in the path of the fuelmixture, and means for supplyingair to the fuel mixture through said fluid heater, whereby the air thussupplied is heated, substantially as described.

6. In fuel supplying means, the combina* tion of meansfor heating thefuel mixture including a fluid heater and an electrical heater, andadjustable means for supplying air to the mixture through said fluidheater, whereby the air thus supplied is heated, said adjustable meansincluding an adjustable opening,- substantially as described.

, 7. In fuel supplying means, the combina: tion of means for heating thefuel mixture "including a fluid heater, an electrical heater," and heatconducting'material in thermal relation to said heaters and-interposedin, the. path of the fuel mixture, and adjustable means for supplying.air to thefuel mixture through said fluid heater, whereby the-air thussupplied is heatedysaid adjustable means including an adjustableopening, sub: stantially fLS'ClQSGllbQd;

8. In means for supplying fuel to an in- "ternal combustion engine, adevice adapted to'be located between the induction pipe and thecarbureter, comprising a heat conducting member with an opening there--through for the passage of the fuel mixture from the carbureter to theinduction pipe,

supplying means, the combinationfof 'meansfo'r heating the fuelmixtureincluding afluid heater, an electrical heater,

said member having two independent chambers surrounding the opening forthe passage of the fuel mixture, an electrical heater contained in oneof said chambers, and the other of said chambers being adapted toreceive heated fluid, and said opening having means therein forfacilitatingthe transfer of heat from the heater and chambers to thefuel mixture, substantially as described.

9. In means for supplying fuel to aninternal combustion engine, a deviceadapted to be located between the induction pipe and the carbureter,comprising a heat conducting member with an opening therethrough for thepassage of the fuel mixture from the carbureter to the induction pipe,said member having therein an electrical heater and a chamber adapted toreceive heated fluid, said electrical heater and chamber surrounding andbeing in thermal relation to the opening for the passage of the fuelmixture, said opening having means therein for facilitating the transferof heat from the heater and chamber to the fuel mixture, comprising amass of wire having a'portion thereof in contact with the walls of theopening, substantially as described.

10. In means for supplying fuel to an in ternal combustion engine, adevice adapted to. be located between the induction pipe and thecarbureter comprising a heat conducting member with an openingtherethrough for the passage of the fuel mixture from the carbureter tothe induction pipe, said member having therein an electrical heater andachamber adapted to receive heated fluid, said electrical heater andchamber being in thermal relation to the opening for the passage of thefuel mixture, and means for supplying air to said mixture through saidchamber, whereby the air thus supplied is heated, substantially asdescribed.

11. In means for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine, adevice adapted to be located between the induction pipe and thecarbureter, comprising a heat conducting member with an openingtherethrough for the passage of the fuel mixture from the carbureter tothe induction pipe, said member having therein an electrical heater anda chamber adapted to receive heated fluid, said electrical heater andchamber being in thermal relation to the opening for the passage of thefuel mixture, and adjustable means for supplying air to said mixturethrough said chamber, whereby the air thus supplied is heated, saidadjustable means ineluding an adjustable opening, substantially asdescribed.

12. In means for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine, adevice adapted to be located between the induction pipe and thecarbureter comprising a heat conduct ing member with an openingtherethrough for the passage of the fuel mixture from the carbureter tothe induction pipe, said member having therein an electrical heater anda chamber adapted to receive heated fluid, said electrical heater andchamber being in thermal relation to the opening for the pas sage of thefuel mixture, and means for supplying air to said mixture through saidfluid heater whereby the air thus supplied is heated, theoperation ofsaid means being controlled by the draft of the fuel mixture supplied tothe engine, substantially as described.

13. In means for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine, adevice adapted to be located between the induction pipe and thecarbureter comprising a heat conducting member with an openingtherethrough for the passage of the fuel mixture from the carbureter tothe induction pipe, said member having therein an electrical heater anda chamber adapted for the passage of heated fluid therethrough, saidelectrical heater and chamber surrounding and being in thermal relationto the opening for the passage of the fuel mixture, said chamber beingprovided with a batlle plate located along the chamber wall in proximityto the opening for the passage of the fuel mixture, said baffle platehaving openings therein arranged so as to expose more and more of thechamber wall to the heated fluid as it passes from the inlet of thechamber to the outlet thereof, substantially as described.

14:. In fuel supplying means, the combination of means for heating thefuel mixture including a fluid heater and an electrical heater, andmeans for supplying air to the mixture including an extended passagewayin close thermal relation to one of said heaters, and throughoutsubstantially the entire length of which air passes before entering themixture, whereby the air thus supplied is preheated,substantially asdescribed.

This specification signed and witnessed this 22nd day of July 1912.

THOMAS A. EDISON, JR.

WVit-nesses HENRY HOLZMANN, A. W. DRESSER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

